Bridgehampton, NY – August 29, 2004 — The 29th annual Hampton Classic kicked off with local riders enjoying equestrian competition during the Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day on Sunday, August 29.

In an exciting mix of equestrian sport and family fun, the ever-popular Lead-line classes were held in the morning with a total of 82 future stars of the sport getting their first taste of horse show competition.

This year, it was young Madeline Briggs of Southampton, NY, who earned the blue ribbon in the Lead-line competition for children aged five to seven riding her small pony, Pippi Longstocking. Lilly Hymowitz of New York, NY, and Blackie claimed top honors from a field of 51 entries in the Lead-line class for children aged four and under.

Led into the ring aboard their ponies, the adorable young entries were judged by Hampton Classic favorite, Joe Fargis. “I have been judging this event for over twenty years, I feel it is my duty to give back,” emphasized Fargis, a three-time Olympic Medallist who divides his time between Southampton, NY, and Middleburg, VA. After presiding over the Lead-line classes in the morning, Fargis went on to win the first show jumping competition of the 2004 Hampton Classic, the $20,000 David Yurman Time Challenge, riding Diams III.

“It couldn’t be a better start to the Hampton Classic,” acknowledged Fargis, a long-time competitor at the Hampton Classic. “The footing is great, and the course designer is great. What more could you ask for?”

The 29th annual Hampton Classic officially opened on Sunday, August 29, with the Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day festivities. Equestrian competition got underway at 8:00 a.m. with the Grand Prix Ring opening at noon with an exhibition of the Smithtown Hunt Club, a musical dressage performance, and the World of the Horse parade celebrating the wide variety of breeds that the horse world has to offer.

“Manhattan Mortgage Company’s Opening Day has become established as one of the Hampton Classic’s best loved traditions,” noted Hampton Classic Executive Director Tony Hitchcock. “The combination of the David Yurman Time Challenge featuring some of our nation’s leading Grand Prix riders, a full schedule of competitions for Long Island horsemen, lead-line classes for our sport’s future stars, and our World of the Horse demonstrations has made this the perfect start to our week-long schedule.”

One of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions, the Hampton Classic boasts jam-packed social events and equestrian competition. Following a break in competition on Monday, August 30, competition runs through to Sunday, September 5. Admission is $10 per person or $20 per carload with children under 6 admitted free. Reserved grandstand seating for Sunday, September 5, is $15 per person (in addition to regular admission) or $25 per person in the special Premium Seating center sections. Hampton Classic proceeds benefit Southampton Hospital.

For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.